The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-03-10
All of a sudden he saw neo,,,. ,,,,.,.-

All OF sudden he saw people Drsl,.
ing each other. In the middle Of thu
street q young man was selling news.
! papers. The crowd fought amono
| themselves in their eagerness to Inv,
the Petit Journal.
At this view Polyte made IN his
mind. He also would sell newspapers
He bought copy of the Journal. read
| the direction of its publishers, ran to
the office and asked q clerk to con6da
q number of papers to him.
As he had no money the man re-
fused to entertain his demand. Then
he burst out sobbing. His sorrow DIP
peared go touching and true that the
clerk signalled him to one OF the edit
ors. In a moment Polyte, who had
related his story to the gentleman, re-
ceived q gratuitous and large supply
of newspapers, together with a hand
some uniform cap, while the good ed
itor dispatched a messenger to Pc.
lyte's house, bearer of succor for the
wife of the missing sergeant.
From that time and for several
weary weeks mother and child sub
sisted on the profits made by the in
defatigable boy.
Polyte increased his mercantile oper-
atoms by taking q partner in the shape
of a poodle dog that he found in the
| street and to which he taught tricks.
Among them the foremost was known
as ''The Ducks Hunt executed by
Jean de Nivelle's Dog Polyte threw
up q large ring O a which newspapers
were hung and cup was put on the
ground. The dog seized the ring in the
| fight. The more the master cried
"Come here" the more the dog ran
away from him; the animal described
quick circles, presenting the newspapers
to tho passers by with such q cOmical
expression that quickly the ring was
deprived of it's burden, and the little
cup filled to the brim with copper and
silver pieces.
Energy wore out adversely IN
Polyte's case. Theresa regained her
health, and resumed her work Of a
milliner. Meanwhile other sor1ows
were in store for the courageous child.
One evening after serving his Gus
toners Polytc found Robert visiting
his mother.
He returned often, friend Robert, he
returned too often. Once he invited
himself without much ado to dinner,
under the pretext that hehad brought
a roasted chicken and bottle of fine
claret.
And asking to be excused for his
lack of ceremony on the plea that he
was alone in the world the stonecutter
arrived, little by little, to share the
evening meal OF the Sigaults, a thing
which displeased Monsieur Polyte g.
great deal. Every day it seemed to
the jealous child that this newcomer
was taking a part of his mothers love
from him.
1t was the morning of New Years
day. Polyte had economical cent by
cent in order to prepare a surprise for
his mother in the shape of a modest
costume that he spread on her arm
chair, and he said to her:
mamma, after breakfast will you
dress yourself and we will 60 out to-
gether to show your new dress to the
neiehbors?"
This request caused Theresa to
blush. She had already promised
Robert to have walk with him-he
was to call on her at ten o'clock
and cit is proper" she added, that I
remind you to be more polite with
Mr.. Robert you are too rude with him."
Polyte did not answer, the tears fill
ed his big blue eyes; he retired to the
next room. Opening a drawer he
took out a photograph OF his father,
that he covered with kisses and de-
posted in on the dress, his present to
his mother.
Through ray of precious intell,-
gence the boy had comprehended that
shortly the rigid sentinel, as his faith
er called him, would be unable to
watch over the place alone.
The dog turned around to his master,
looking at him very attentively, as if
it wanted him to understa and the
cause of his sorrow.
Suddenly the animal straig htened its
ears and began to growl. SOMEBODY
had entered theroom next to Polyte's.
The child heard a heavy step, q voice
(Rcbert's) speaking loudly, then a
whisper, followed by a cry halfsmoth-
cred, and the noise of a slight struggle.
The dog made a jump and opened
widely the door that was not locked.
L wy CC o0N IIo udICu 1lOuOlC
ing near his mother, who hid her face
and protested with great vehemence.
The intruder had buried the old year
too gaily; in his half drunkenness he
had thought himself entitled to a kiss
from Mrs. Sigault as New Years
present.
Polyte was on the eve of speaking,
when his dog, sociable only with him
and his mother, rushed on the man
and bit him cruelty.
1t needed all the strength OF Polyte,
who shook with anger, to make the
faithful animal let go his hold on
Roberts leg. The boy and the man,
brought face to face by the incident.
glared at ca III other. Robert detected
i'll the eyes of the child his firm will to
retain his mothers heart. He was
not a bad man, that Robert, only a
little vain and braggart, a true
Partisan. Noticing the mistake done
by him, he Redeemed, stammered and
salutine low, he departed.
The next day as Theresa awOke aft
er a bad nights sleep. Polyte entered
her room like a bombshell, having in
his hand a letter just given to him by
Vic ft!IlCOI vi tLIc !lOuSe. llC L1ICCW ~
on his mothers bed unable to articu-
late another word but Pa-pa!-Pa-
pa!
And this blessed letter, that the
child had not hesitated to recognize as
having been written by his father,
reads as follows:
DEAR WIFE: l am in the military hos
pital OF Spaut!an in Germany. have I'M
dergone a frightful operation on the head.
am informed by the medical authorities
of the hospital that have rem aimed sense
less over one year; thoy call my case with
q Greek or Latin name.
l have suffered very much. but now the
physicians told me that will be we'll again
in u few weeks.
Good bye dearest. hope that the rig
id sentry has performed his duty to your
utmost satisfaction. kiss both OF Won a
million times. Your husband and father
JOHN SlGAULT.